THE Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MBHTE-Barmm) has released P17.7 million representing three month's salary of 393 para-teachers in two Barmm provinces.

Each of the para-teachers received P45,000 representing their salaries from October to December 2020, or at P15,000 monthly.

MBHTE Minister Mohagher Iqbal led the distribution of salaries from Wednesday, January 13, until Thursday, January 14, held at the MBHTE office at the Barmm government center in Cotabato City.

Iqbal said of the 393 para-teachers, one was from Marawi City, 99 and 129 were from the 1st and 2nd district of Lanao del Sur, and 88 and 76 from the 1st and 2nd district of Maguindanao, respectively.

Para-teachers are those temporarily appointed in the absence of licensed teachers.

He said para-teachers were the provisional teachers previously affected by MBHTE’s cease and desist order.

Iqbal said with a P15,000 monthly salary, they were re-employed from provisional to contract of service following his request to Barmm Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim and Ministry of Finance, Budget and Management (MFBM) to extend their services until the end of school year 2020-2021.

Meanwhile, the schedule of the release of salaries for para-teachers in the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi has yet to be announced by the MBHTE. (SunStar Zamboanga)